Post-Zuma South Africa will be left to pick up the pieces

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – NOVEMBER 08, 2017: The launch of investigative journalist Jacques Pauw’s book, 'The President’s Keepers' at Hyde Park shopping centre on November 08, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The book, which has been widely shared on social media, investigates damning allegations against President Jacob Zuma and the capture of state owned entities. (Photo by Gallo Images / Alet Pretorius)

The award-winning investigative journalist was speaking at Thursday’s #NandosDMGathering where he said the effectiveness of the country’s law enforcement institutions has been depleted and there is a lot of work that will need to be done in order to achieve some sort of restoration.

“A lot of people think that everything is going to change if we can get rid of Jacob Zuma. The problem is we have to rebuild these institutions,” Pauw said.

“We have to rebuild SARS who have just declared that they are going to have a R50 billion shortfall this year. They had a R30 billion shortfall last year.

Pauw also touched on the Hawks, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), saying these institutions have lost all credibility in recent years, with the latter severely hamstrung by the constant loss of key personnel.

“There’s virtually nothing left of the Hawks. When was the last time we’ve seen a major organised crime syndicate being busted? It doesn’t happen anymore,” He ADDED.

“Crime intelligence is in complete disarray… I mean they haven’t had a commander since 2011. Richard Mdluli has been suspended since 2011 – he’s still the commander, he still gets his salary. He got a R400 000 bonus last year.

“Very good prosecutors have left the NPA and I think that’s the biggest challenge we face today – it’s that these institutions have to be rebuilt.

Pauw’s controversial book deals extensively with these issues, with the country’s law enforcement institutions featuring heavily in a not-so-flattering light.

The backlash from the allegations made in the book has resulted in him being subjected to legal action and has even gone as far as receiving death threats. He was quizzed about these threats at The Gathering and revealed that he had initially hired bodyguards but later realised he was not really in danger.

When people threaten to kill you, they are not going to kill you. SOmebody who is serious in killing you is not going to warn you,” PAUW said.